low temperature indicator

I believe roadways, under the certain conditions, can start to become slippery at that temperature. Better to find out at 37 degrees than 32 degrees?

 

There are many posts in here on that subject if you do a search.

Briefly, it is so you can tell that the roads or bridges might freeze up. Most agree it is not all that useful in very cold climates siince it stays on all winter. Some cover it with electric tape since they consider it an annoyance.

 

In most locations ice on the road could be fatal.

 

Has anyone actually seen ice on the road when the temprature on the MFD is 37 deg F? I haven't, but there are obviously conditions I haven't seen. Not leftover hard packed snow that I can see, that can be on the road at tempratures way above 37, but the stuff I can't see like black ice.

The problem with this icon is that it comes on when it isn't needed and stays on. People learn to ignore it fairly quickly even if they don't want to. It's like saying "the sky is falling" when it really isn't, people will soon ignore you. There was a metaphor about wolves I think.

 

Sure. When the temp is rising from below freezing. Ice can easily still be on the roads, and slippery too, because it's melting.

Also there's that old saying about bridges freezing first and thawing last...

 

Guilty as charged